346
EXTRAORDINARY PUBLIC WORKS.
58. Chamberlain Road.--The Chamberlain Road, leading from the upper Tram Station at Victoria Gap to Mount Kellet Road, was completed in December, the total cost being $25,149.45. The first section of this road, as far as the entrance to “ Treverbyn," is 23 feet wide, the second section, on to "The Homestead," 15 feet wide. Starting for some distance level, it then rises at a uniform gradient of 1 in 20 to the junction with Mount Kellet Road. Considering the extremely heavy retaining walls required in the first section, and the first class nature of the masonry, surfacing, handrails, &c.. it cannot be considered an extravagant work. The total length is 2,340 feet.
59. Barker Road.-The Barker Road leading from Plantation Road to Magazine Gap was also completed in the year and opened for traffic, the total cost being $26,880.00. The length of this road is 5,660 feet and the ruling gradient 1 in 40, while the steepest gradients being 1 in 20 make it avail- able for rickshaw traffic. For some months in the summer a threatened slip near the commencement of the road caused much anxiety. The cutting passed through some very treacherons soil, probably an old landslip, and being immediately below the Plantation Road and inmediately above the Tram line, a slip, such as for some time seemed imminent, would probably have carried away both. The position, moreover, rendered the use of blasting powder or dynamite impossible, and the overhanging and slipping mass had to be carried away in pieces by coolie labour, the boulders being cut up by wedging. To make the road perfectly safe a heavy retaining wall, built in cement, was considered necessary, which added fully $3,000.00 to the cost of the road Long before completion, the road became a favourite evening walk, and already three large building sites have been sold, and the erection of one European residence is well advanced.
60: General Black's Link.—An expenditure of less than $1,000 was incurred in opening the foot- path from Wanchai Gap, via Middle Gap to Wongueichong Gap since named "General Black's Link." This path is a little over 3 miles in length and traverses the southern slopes of Mounts Cauneron and Nicholson, commanding charming views of Deep Water Bay and the south coast of the Island. It opens up numerous attractive building sites, which will undoubtedly be sought after if a tramway to Magazine Gap is ever made.
61. Hok Un Road.-In British Kowloon the road from Hung Ilom to Hok Ün was completed and some cross roads on which the squatters evicted from the site now occupied by the Green Island Cement Works, were established in permanent well built houss. This road was designed, constructed, and drained with a view to probable considerable extension of building for the large population connected with the Docks and the Cement Works. As stated in the half-yearly report the road should, as soon as practicable, be extended on to Kowloon City, and from there, in connection with the opening up and development of the new territory, to Sai Kung on Shelter Bay, and eventually over to Mirs Bay.
62. Station Street, Kowloon.-On the other side of the peninsula the extension of Station Street North through Mongkoktsui and on towards the boundary fence was taken in hand and well advanced.
63. Taipingshan Resumption. The laying out, roading and draining of the Taipingshan resumed area was completed during the year at an expenditure of $36,110.69 The total expenditure on this work has been $107,751.18 or $12,248.82 below the estimate of $120,000.
64. Blocks of buildings were erected and are occupied on the lo:s sold at the end of 1897 and early in 1898, and the remainder of the area is ready for sale when required.
65. Improvement of Gas Lighting. The expenditure under the votes for the improvement of gas lighting in the City of Victoria was $2,598.92; 107 lamps were fitted with incandescent burners, a number of lamps were added, whilst others were altered in position.
66. Extension of Gas Lighting.—Under the vote for the extension of gas lighting an expenditure of $994.00 was incurred in erecting lamps on--
(1.) MacDonnell Road,
(2.) Bowen Road as far as the Tramway, part of the expense of the latter being borne by
the Tramway Company.
(3.) Such portions of the New Reclamation as were completed during the year.
67. Forming and kerling Streets.-The expenditure under the vote for forming and kerbing streets in the year was $9,970.89. The principal items of work done were as follows :
(1.) Road from Hung Hom to Hok Ün, 50 feet wide and nearly half a mile long. The land bordering on it will shortly become very valuable for building sites, as the Dock Works and Cement Works develop. It has been laid out with this in view, as likely to become in time the main street of a large town.
(2.) The new approach to MacDonnell Road where the old Gardeners' Cottages stood. From the amount of land sold for building on this road, it will in a short time become an important one, and the expenditure incurred in raising the bridge, raising and levelling the road was fully justified.